Page 41 of Pulled By the Tail
Her plan sucked balls.
Talen
Talent,
I am alarmed at the flirtatious nature of your relationship with Georgia. I did not bring the female to Corra or this house, to have you drooling after her like a kit who just discovered what his cock is for. It’s deeply embarrassing to witness your amateurish moves. Sometimes it is like you have never spoken to a female before.
I understand that this may not be entirely your fault, as military service kept you in the company of females of an equally blunt and boorish nature.
I am available to provide tutelage. I do so only out of a sense of familial obligation and a desire to shield the family name from dishonor.
You carry my heart,
Your Elder and Superior Sibling
The window installationstarted just after dawn and continued until the storm loomed over the foothills, turning the sky an ominous gray. This winter storm promised significant snow and high winds. The workers left at mid-afternoon, leaving ample time to arrive safely in their home. They would return in two days if the roads were passable.
The new windows had shutters that oscillated closed like the lens of a camera. Those secured automatically. The older windows, especially the broken ones, had to be secured by nailing plywood over the vulnerable glass. Wind speeds in a storm topped out at just shy of the fantastic. Any stray debris, even as small as a pebble, would shatter the window and send glass flying. By the time Talen, Charl, and Quil secured all the windows, the sky was completely dark.
Bright called them into the kitchen for the evening meal.
“Where’s Georgia?” he asked, noticing the empty spot at the table. The female avoided socialization, at least when Quil or Fiona were present, but she never skipped meals. They used that time to compare notes for the day.
“How should I know? This house has been so cold today I spent the day in bed. Alone,” Fiona complained, tossing a pouty look toward Quil.
“I had important matters to attend to,” Quil said.
“Your wife is an important matter,” she said.
“Very.”
“And I felt neglected.” Another pout and Quil ate it up, promising to spend extra time together, perhaps a trip.
The expense of those trips added up. He should say something to Quil, but it would only lead to an argument. His brother would hear nothing negative about his mate.
“She said she was cold and wanted to warm up in the bathhouse,” Charl said.
“And you didn’t stop her,” Talen accused.
“That was an hour ago. She had time to return before the snow arrived.”
Outside, snow already fell but did not yet coat the ground. The wind had yet to arrive. Georgia was still out there, possibly unaware of the severity of the storm. If she did not return to the house soon, she would be trapped in the bathhouse, a structure with no door and a ceiling that opened to the sky. Staying there offered as much protection from the elements as standing in a field.
His worry took a dark turn. She could have slipped or fallen on the stone steps and fractured a bone. Humans were fragile. They broke so easily. He saw plenty of broken human legs and arms in the Navy. The sailors put on a brave face and never admitted the pain. Georgia was a civilian. How would she tolerate the pain? She could be unconscious, passed out and bleeding.
Blood would attract predators, particularly mornclaws. Violent storms often uncovered egg clutches, causing them to hatch and seek prey. That was another reason to secure buildings from flying debris. Mornclaws would seek out the heat of a home, especially in the winter.
“I have to find her.”
He grabbed his coat and a powerful flashlight and headed out the door. He shouted but heard no answer. The wind stirred, cold against his face. In thirty minutes, the storm would arrive full force. Maybe an hour if the stars were kind.
Thankfully, he did not find her in a broken heap on the stone stairs. She was in the bathhouse, floating in the coppery water, eyes closed in serenity. The pale tips of her breasts crested the water, along with the swell of her belly and her thighs. Her dark hair fanned out around her, like some enchanting sea creature. Snow drifted in from the oculus in the ceiling, melting into a fine mist when it hit the warm air.
“My mate!” His shout echoed off the stone walls. Startled, she splashed, sinking down in the water. “Apologies, I didn't mean to shout.”
Submerged in the water from her chin down, the green water obscured her form. She watched him with narrowed, suspicious eyes. “Can’t I have a little bit of privacy? And I’m not your mate.”
“We don’t have time to waste on that tedious argument. The storm is nearly here.” He normally enjoyed teasing her, just to see the flush of color in her complexion, but they had no time for such flirtation now.
